Oscar Piastri takes pole at Spanish Grand Prix 2025, leading McLaren to a dominant front row lockout. The Australian driver edged ahead of team-mate Lando Norris in a thrilling qualifying session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Max Verstappen claimed third place for Red Bull with an identical lap time to George Russell but secured the position by setting the time first.
McLaren showed strong pace from the start of Q1. Piastri clocked an impressive 1:12.551 lap early, with Norris trailing closely. Verstappen briefly split the McLarens, but the top spot soon returned to orange hands. In a dramatic twist, several drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda, were eliminated in Q1 after failing to improve their times.
Strong Qualifying Pace from Piastri and McLaren
The Q2 session highlighted McLaren’s growing confidence. Norris and Piastri exchanged top positions, with the latter setting a benchmark lap of 1:11.998. Verstappen followed closely, while Russell and Hamilton remained in contention. Despite some late efforts, notable drivers like Alex Albon and Gabriel Bortoleto failed to advance.
Power and Performance Under Pressure
During the top-10 shootout, McLaren’s pace was unmatched. Norris took provisional pole with a 1:11.819, but Piastri delivered under pressure. He pushed harder and claimed pole with a lap of 1:11.546. Verstappen executed a strong final flyer, climbing from tenth to third, just ahead of Russell. The session showcased the car’s power and the driver’s composure.
Top Ten Grid for the Spanish Grand Prix
Hamilton and Antonelli will start fifth and sixth respectively, with Leclerc and Gasly following. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar delivered an excellent performance to qualify ninth, while Fernando Alonso completed the top ten for Aston Martin. The Spanish crowd will be watching closely as the drama unfolds on race day.
| Pos | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 7 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 11 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 12 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber |
| 13 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 14 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 15 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber |
| 17 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team |
| 18 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 19 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing |
Disclaimer: Motorsport results and qualifying performances are subject to change due to penalties or steward decisions.
Source: FIA
AI Assistance: Chatgpt
